the paradox of sanitized discourse
Dear reader, I must warn you that in exploring the troubling effects of "political correctness" when followed zealously, I risk veering toward its opposite extreme. Yet this tension itself might illuminate something essential about our relationship with language and meaning.
Notice that I began this essay with what could be considered a politically correct form of address. In the times we inhabit—marked by profound political disorientation—the notion of what constitutes "correct" discourse has become increasingly nebulous. Today, even the most innocent expression can transform into potential transgression, a phenomenon aptly called "sincericídio" in Portuguese—a form of sincerity suicide or homicide. To avoid hurting anyone, myself included, I've started with the very approach I intend to critique.
Years ago, I encountered a definition of political correctness that rooted itself deeply in my thinking: "Political correctness is a theory that supports the idea that it's perfectly possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean side."
I don't believe this is possible. If something is shit, it's shit. It will soil, stink, and contaminate. Yet if we look beyond our immediate aversion, even the most unpleasant realities contain transformative potential—excrement becomes fertilizer, not as a tragic end but as a catalyst for new beginnings.
